We recently connected with Dominique Lindsey and have shared our conversation below.

Dominique, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

My path to the biggest life change for me started on February 20,2022 when I was sitting in my living room floor after my aunt asked me to complete some signage for her upcoming vow renewal ceremony. At that time, I was a burnt out accountant working 70 hours a week. As I was sitting there on my living floor, surrounded by mounds of black and red flowers, rhinestones and bunches of bridesmaids bouquets I had already created. I felt a sense of happiness, serenity and just immense calmness as I created. It was at that moment I looked across the room and noticed the white framed mirror that my aunt had asked me to write “Welcome to the Wedding” I picked up the white acrylic oil marker, I shook the marker until the ink started flowing and started writing across the surface. It was at that moment my husband came around the corner and said to me, “you look incredibly happy!.” I kind of chuckled at him and replied, “you think so!” . But, he was right, I was happy. I completed her signage, she absolutely loved it and I received so many compliments from guests at her wedding. The very next week I googled “Bridal Shows in Charlotte”, the NC Bridal Expo was the first one that popped up after I hit enter, it was for March 19, 2023. The unknown always makes me extremely nervous and I remember looking at my husband and saying, “Do you think this is a good idea?” he looked at me and said, “stop thinking and just go for it!” The rational part of me, the accountant part said this is absolutely insane! While the other part of me said, “is it really! What do you really have to lose?!” On March 19, 2023 as I walked into The Park Expo & Conference Center, I took in the surroundings and set up my corner booth, Booth 513 in about 2 1/2 hours; the happiness I felt was something I had never experienced with my accounting career. As the brides, grooms and visitors came by one by one admiring my work and asking questions about my offerings I knew that this path was the right path for me. I decided on that day, that it was a time for a new chapter and Always You Design Co. was officially born.

Dominique, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Dominique, I am a calligrapher and hand-letterer based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. I have always been extremely artistic but I found writing to be really relaxing so I took a online course to teach me the basics of calligraphy and never looked back. I currently have offerings related to the event industry and business signage. Some of my offerings for the wedding and event signage industry are rentals such as mirrors, windows, doors and chalkboards that can be customized to fit any event. These signs can be customized for signage such as welcome signs, seating charts, bar signage, table numbers just to name a few. I also write on items that belong to the client too if they have a special piece that they would like to include in their event. I also provide engraving services which can be used on fragrance bottles, select wine bottles, liquor bottles and many other surfaces. I also offer calligraphy services such as place cards, addressed envelopes and any other type of customization that a client desires. I also do live events too which our industry calls brand activations; at these live calligraphy or engraving is completed in front of guests for them to have a custom piece of art for them to take with them as a gift.

For my business offerings, I work with other businesses to expand their brand marketing and improve the overall customer experience. These are often chalkboard signage that includes their logo and offerings such as menu signs. I have also complete custom commissions such as a custom painting that is then hung in the establishment for example this can include a mascot that needs to be completing a specific action such as directing customers which direction a line is to start. We also offer custom menu signage that can be completed in studio or on-site for in breweries, bars and restaurants that would like their branding to carry throughout their menu signage creating a more custom experience and brand awareness.

As a business owner who provides signage for events and small business owners – I am proud of the impact my signage has on their events and their businesses. The reactions that they have when they are presented their signage. I love being able to bring their visions to life and show it to them in material form. The services I provide have the ability to take something off of their already full plate, regardless of whether its a bride or a business owner it’s one less thing that they have to worry about.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I think keeping my word and following through has helped me build my reputation within the market. No matter the task I consistently give 110% of effort each and every time because for me the client reaction at the end when their final product is being presented to them is worth it. I am authentically myself with each encounter and I think people respond well to that. I have found that word of mouth from my previous clients has helped to expand my business and build my reputation.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Community – coming from a industry where everyone’s for themselves it never crossed my mind at first to reach out to others within my community for guidance or connections. Community over competition is a saying and a feeling that each artist I have met has both said and shown- I have learned a lot from them. We can focus on completely different areas within the industry but the commonality allows us to coexist with one another.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alwaysyoudesignco.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/alwaysyoudesignco?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066784902255
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRW9BF2e/

Image Credits
@mysocialbff – the luggage photo